Folding paper box



Aug. 29, 1939. w. E. STONECYPHER 2,171,051

FOLDING PAPER BOX Filed Sept. 8, 1957 INVENTOR. E6. .2. WLA/AM E 570/VECVP/1ffi ATTOkN Y Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 8, 1937, SerialNo. 162,864

4 Claims.

My invention relates to collapsible or folding boxes, cartons, and'the like, such as used in packing clothing, laundry, and the like.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a box or carton of this class which may be readily assembled, collapsed or folded when assembled, for storing or transporting the same, and which may be easily and quickly unfolded for use and held in such unfolded position. K Another important object of this invention is to provide such a folding box or carton in which the sides, or side and end flanges, are so united that the uniting flap may be readily and conveniently folded so that the normally upright side and end flanges may be readily and conveniently collapsed or folded against the bottom of the-box.

. A further important object of this invention is to provide means for holding the end of the uniting flap securely against the flange to which it is joined so that the flap may be readily folded.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide simple and efficient means of holding the box in an unfolded position, and one which does not interfere with the convenient and efficient collapsing of the box.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, I have devised a collapsible or folding box of this class having certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying. drawing and to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my folding box, inits preferred form of construction, showing only the receptacle or lower portion of a box, a cover (not shown) for the upper portion of the box, being a substantial duplicate; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one corner of the blank from which the box is formed; Fig. 3 is a plan view of one corner of the box,

showing by dotted lines, the side and end flanges.

folded inwardly; and,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the box in a partially collapsed condition.

In the drawing, the bottom of the box is designated l, and the upright. side and end flanges j are designated 2 and 3, respectively.

flanges are foldable upwardly about scored pct- -t1ons designated grand b, respectively.

These The ends of the end flanges 3 are provided with flaps H, which are foldable, with respect to the -end flanges, about scored portions 0, which are positioned at right angles to the scores b. At the outer edge of each flap is an anchor terminal l2 5 of any desired shape with the exception that the anchor terminal is foldable with respect to the flap II on a scored line cl which is positioned at an angle of 45 to the score 0. The anchor terminal I2 extends a slight distance beyond the 10 adjacent portion of the flap, as indicated by l2.

The side flange 2 is provided with an angular slit 2! for receiving the anchor terminal 12 of the flap. To facilitate the insertion of the anchor terminal, a slit 2! extends backwardly from the 16 end of the side flange and from the end of the slit 2!, and substantially parallel to the normally upper edge of the side flange. The flap engages the outer side of the end portion of the side flange with the anchor terminal inserted through the 20 slit 2|, as shown best in Fig. 1.

In the side flange is also a curved slit 3 I which is positioned inwardly from the slits 2| and 2|, and forms an ear 32, which is adapted to engage the inner side of the free edge portion of the 25 anchor terminal for holding the latter against the inner side of the side flange, also shown best in Fig. 1.

The end of the side flange, designated 4|, recedes backwardly at a slight angle, as shown best 30 in Fig. 2. 4 Beyond said edge is provided a projection 42, the end of which is flush or in line with the folding line or score b, between the end flange andthe bottom. The end flange is also provided with a tongue 43 formed by slits 43 parallel to the upper edge of the end flange, and by a slit 43 terminating on the score 0. As the box is unfolded from a collapsedcondition, the projection 42 forces the tongue 43 outwardly until the projection is seated beyond and against the 40 end of the tongue. The outer end of the projection is substantially flush with the score b so that the box may be readily collapsed.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement 5 of parts and portions, and though I have described certain structural elements in connection with specific side and end flanges of a folding box, and particularly at one corner thereof, I do. not wish to be limited to the same, but desire to 50 include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination, and arrangement of any or' all of the sides and corners, substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A box, formed of a blank of flexible material, having a bottom and normally bent up side and end flanges united at the ends, said flanges being foldable inwardly about their lower edges against the inside of the bottom, the side flange having an angular slit, an end of one end flange having a flap extending around the end portion of the adjacent side flange, said flap having an anchoring terminal extending through the angular slit from the outer to the inner side of the side flange, the juncture between the flap and the anchoring terminal being scored on a line extending at an angle of 45 through the intersection of the lower edges of the end and side flanges, and said angular slit extending in the same direction of and being substantially coincident with said' scored line.

2. A box, formed of a blank of flexible material, havinga bottom and normally bent up side and end flanges united at the ends, said flanges being foldable inwardly about their lower edges against the inside of the bottom, the side flange having an angular slit, an end of one end flange having a flap extending around the end portion of the adjacent side flange, said flap having an anchoring terminal extending through the angular slit from the outer to the inner side of the side flange, the juncture between the flap and the anchoring terminal being scored on a line extending at an angle of 45 through the intersection of the lower edges of the end and side flanges, the side flange having a portion cut therefrom forming an ear inwardly from but directed toward the slit, said ear engaging the inner side of the anchoring terminal and thereby holding the latter against the inner side of the side flange when the flanges are bent either upright from or folded against the bottom.

3. A box, formed of a blank of flexible material, having a bottom and normally bent up side and end flanges united at the ends, said flanges being foldable inwardly about their lower edges against the'inside of the bottom, the side flange having an angular slit, an end of one end flange having a flap extending around the end portion of the adjacent side flange, said flap having an anchoring terminal extending "through the angular slit from the outer to the inner side of the side flange, the juncture between the flap and the anchoring terminal being scored on a line extending at an angle of 45 through the intersection of the lower edges of the end and side flanges, the end of the end flange, intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, having spaced slits forming an outwardly deflecting tongue, and the adjacent edge of the side flange having a short projection adapted to seat against the end of the tongue when the flanges extend upright, the end of the projection being substantially flush with the lower folding edge of the end flange, and the end edge of the side flange, other than the projection, ex tending backwardly at a slight angle from its lower folding edge.

4. Abox, formed of a blank of flexible material,

having a bottom and normally bent up side and end flanges united at the ends, said flanges being foldable inwardly about their lower edges against the inside of the bottom,- the side flange having an angular slit, an end of one end flange having a flap extending around the end portion of the adjacent side flange, said flap having an anchoring terminal extending through the angular slit from the outer to the inner side of the side flange, the juncture between the flap and the anchoring terminal being scored on a line extending at an angle of 45 through the intersection of the lower edgesof the end andside flanges, the side flange having'a portion cut therefrom forming an ear inwardly from but directed toward the slit, said ear engaging the inner side of the anchoring terminal and thereby holding the latter against the inner side of the side flange when the flanges are bent either upright from or folded-against the bottom, the end of the end flange, intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, having spaced slits forming an outwardly deflecting tongue and the adjacent edge of the side flange having a short projection adapted to seat against the end of the tongue when the flanges extend upright. WILLIAM E. STONECYPHER. 

